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Table 3 Steps taken by research teams to optimise recruitment and interviewees’ suggestions for improvement
| Strategy | Techniques employed | Suggestions for improvement |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and planning | • Assess feasibility before embarking on a study | • Create shared research databases of potentially eligible patients |
| • Pre-screen clinic notes to identify potentially eligible patients | • Increase speed of ethical approval process | |
| • Establish patient identification centres in surrounding hospitals | ||
| • Ensure research nurses are available to discuss study during patient’s clinic appointment | ||
| Engendering patient support | • Research introduced by patient’s doctor | • Increase public awareness of clinical research |
| • Advertise the study, but also approach patients individually | • Opt-out systems | |
| • Explain importance of clinical research for improvements in healthcare | • More accessible participant information sheets | |
| • Increase use of information technology | ||
| • Discuss the multidisciplinary team involved in research | • Support patients without English as their main language | |
| • Reduce time commitment required and increase flexibility of appointment times | ||
| • Social events for trial participants | ||
| • Increase financial support for participants | ||
| Collaboration with clinicians | • Establish integrated clinical and academic teams | • Greater collaboration with primary care clinicians |
| • Hold research meetings and provide regular updates and feedback | ||
| • Enlist a dedicated study co-ordinator | ||
| • Give prizes for successful recruitment |
